Of course, there was room for improvement. Last year, Payne displayed his jump shot. This year, he'll have to stay consistent while embracing a leading role on a team that will enter the season one of the favorites to win a national championship.

"He has been a supporting player for so long that the question now is whether he’ll be comfortable as a star," DeCourcy wrote. "The difference between 10 points per game and 16 isn't just three baskets, it's how teams account for you defensively, how your own team positions you for the extra shots and whether you believe those opportunities should belong to you. Payne is a terrific rebounder and shot-blocker, but the difference between the excellent role player and the star is producing at the offensive end."